SERPENTS ATHIRST is a barbaric underground Black Metal band from Sri Lanka. Formed in 2011, the band released a split ("Prevail") with SOLITARY DEPRESSION in that same year. Also a demo in 2012, carrying the same title which contained the same tracks from the split, plus an extra track. This year (2017), Cyclopean Eye Productions brings out their EP entitled "Heralding Ceremonial Mass Obliteration". Online info, however, learns this one got released in 2015 already. I couldn’t find any confirmation and with this no reason why there’s a difference in these numbers. After an ominous intro there’s 12 minutes of straight violence on ‘Heralding Ceremonial Mass Obliteration’. The three tracks ‘Introductory Venom / Heralding Ceremonial Mass Obliteration’, ‘Ritual Vomiting’ and ‘Congregation Decimation (Cut Throat)’ have a raw and pure underground sound reminding of older MAYHEM and SARCOFAGO (or the obscure demos of ancient Death Metal pioneers). Guitarist Visharadha Kasun Nawarathna handled drums as BlasphemousWarGoat on GENOCIDE SHRINES’s surprising EP "Devanation Monumentemples". Best feature on this EP are the vocals by Revenend Khaostorm which simply sound amazing. In style their musical scope goes parallel as a mix of ARCHGOAT, EMBRACE OF THORNS and maybe DEMONOMANCY. Or think of BESTIAL RAIDS with half the speed but an equal rawness. SERPENTS ATHIRST’s Death / Black is pretty straightforward and for example ‘Ritual Vomiting’ goes far with hardly any variation. Divergence is minimal, but it ensures a non-stop brutality. The competition in these realms of Metal is as killing as its style, so it might be difficult for SERPENTS ATHIRST to stand out from the rest. Maybe some riffing that’s equally catchy as it is deadly would do some good. Besides this, there’s nothing wrong with "Heralding Ceremonial Mass Obliteration". In case you adore bands like CONQUEROR, REVENGE, DIOCLETIAN, maybe OBSEIDANCE or the above mentioned bands, take a listen before purchase. For more information check out the following sites: www.facebook.com/serpents.athirst, www.cyclopeaneye.com